Dr Seuss Oh The Place's You'll Go, Molly Style

Hooray!

Today is my day.

I’m off to Great Places!

I’m off and away!

I have dreams in my head,

I have fuel in my shoes.

I will teach and help teens,

In the countries I chose.

My current home is a speck called Kuwait.

I dance with princes, and with Arabs relate.

With the grit in the air, and heat so intense,

I shop at the souks, and inhale the incense.

I’ve lived in Deutschland, UK, and the States,

Traveled through Europe with all of my mates.

In Bulgaria orphan kids captured my heart,

While love and good values I tried to impart.

On these adventures I’ve made many a friend,

Dressed up with tribesmen, and attempted to blend.

I’ve politely declined a regale of worm,

To each wacky custom I smile and affirm.

I’m lucky, I’m gifted, there must be a reason,

Perhaps I was picked, trained for this season.

Since I’ve been blessed, I must bless others too,

Share my experiences with him, her and you.

The next step of my journey will be in a dorm,

To a standard of excellence I will conform.

Professors will fuel a passion to learn;

Study Shakespeare, the classics, and a Master’s I’ll earn.

Once taught how to teach, how to impact a child;

I’ll pack up my things and move to the wild.

Oh, English and literature my students will relish,

Things of global importance, I will embellish.

A divided classroom can be united as one,

The values they’ll learn will not be undone.

I’ll show how to preserve the Lorax’s friends,

Inspire others to serve is what I intend.

Life is not served on a fine silver platter,

And sometimes we’re hit with a splash of life’s splatter.

What to do with the splatter? Why paint!

Learn from troubles and trials, don’t allow them to taint.

The mountain of challenges I’ll gladly climb,

Through the Truffula trees I’ll emerge sublime.

Come what may I’ll lock eyes on my goal,

Once at the top I’ll erect a flagpole.

The flag will wave, a symbol of change,

Of kids who have intellectual exchange.

Ideas together they’ll create and they’ll start,

With a passion for change they’ll be doing their part.

I am off to great places,

Today is my day,

My students are waiting,

I’ll be on my way.

Prom 2010: Princes, Police,& Ministry of the Interior

Our group in front of the fantastic limo

My date struggling to put on my HUGE Arab/Indian corsage (notice the 3 white roses and bright blue traditional Indian flowers)

At the salon getting all dolled up. I decided to try the Arab look, heavy make-up and crazy eyes.

Prom 2010. Number 5. Yes, that’s prom number 5. I think it’s a pretty impressive record don’t you? Five proms and only in high school for 3 years. Yes, I’m proud of myself.

The day of prom I decided to go all out and pamper myself. Joha, Tamara, Erika and I booked appointments at a lovely hair salon where they got updos and I got my hair curled. We had fun posing in the fancy chairs while the ladies fussed over us. After hair we got our make up done. It was my first time to ever have anyone else do my make up, and I was a bit worried at first! The lady seemed to understand what I was wearing and what I needed, so the sweet Indian lady just went all out! It was MAC make-up, and boy did she cake it on! The lady applied it the traditional Arab way, thick, lots of it, and very heavy on the eyes. Besides the fact that I was wearing an absurd amount of make up it wasn’t too bad! I called my driver and had him take me from the salon back home where I touched up a few things and soon was quite happy with it.

I slipped on my elegant dress, buttoned my silver dancing shoes, put on the borrowed earrings and matching necklace my boss loaned me, and walked down our staircase feeling like a princess. Daddy drove me back to Joha’s where people were starting to gather. The girls posed for endless photos until our men finally arrived. My date was Louae, his mom is a Southern belle from Tennesse, and his dad is Palestinian. Louae wore a white suit and a tie that matched my blue dress.

Erika brought out the boutonnieres and corsages that were absolutely lovely! Louae and I were proud of ourselves for being the first to put them on without any trouble. The corsage was traditional Arab, over the top white roses with blue flowers surrounding them. It was not the traditional American one, but I liked mine even more. I carefully pinned Louae’s boutonniere and tried not to poke him. I was having so much fun already!

The white limo arrived shortly and the guys played their music through the limo. Very soon the helium balloons were punctured and being inhaled for laughs, I just observed the insanity.

We finally arrived at the Movenpick in the Free Zone and walked across the red carpet that had all the seniors names in stars on it. The place was beautifully decorated , Tamara truly did a fabulous job. Okay, to understand the rest of my story you gotta know that proms are illegal. Mixed gatherings are illegal. Dancing is illegal. So technically we shouldn’t have even attempted to hold the prom. BUT, we have embassy kids, princes, and people with plenty of wasta from the most elite school in Kuwait at the prom, so we went for it. Tamara ensured we had documents from the Ministry that said we were legal for one night only and that they would not disturb us. Oh, if only it were true…

We found our candlelit table, greeted friends, and started dancing on the dance floor. After only a couple of dances the lights were on, the DJ vanished, and we were told to eat dinner. This was around 10:00, and we had only arrived at about 9:15. So we started eating dinner, and enjoyed the “dinner party.” Information from outside slowly began to leak out as questions were asked while the police wandered around the hall and conducted random searches. Supposedly someone called the police and claimed we had alcohol and drugs. There were no alcohol or drugs. We believe rather than some spiteful kid, this was a lie by the Ministry to exert their power and shut us down. The police left for a little bit and we were told the party should be back on soon. Well, that didn’t exactly happen. Tamara came in and yelled at everyone to cover up, and enjoy the birthday dinner party because the Ministry was coming in. The DJ was far out of sight, and soon girls shoulders and chests were covered up by wraps and shawls that were produced from purses, and those we had none were covered in the guy’s jackets. The most impressive party was how all the men turned into gentleman to protect their ladies. As the Ministry walked in and surveyed the area we all began to sing Happy Birthday for a random person, trying to complete our act. The Arab Al-Sabah’s excused themselves and slipped to the bathroom to make phone calls and pull wasta. Louae and I enjoyed our dinner, talked, and enjoyed the entertainment. Dad figured this might happen, so he had been sitting in the park lot the whole time, ready for a quick escape. I texted him and went out to the parking lot to talk to him at 10:45. All dolled up, with a sheer wrap around my chest and me attempting to be a lady and hoist up my skirts through the sand and dust was apparently quite a site. I wanted to scream at the cars who slowed to follow me, and the men whose eyes were fixated on me. Finding dad was quite the relief and I quickly slipped into his car to pour out the details. Dad walked me back inside and he sat in the lobby trying to make sense of the chaos and he even tried to call in a few favors. By 11:00 things were continuing to look sketchy and those who didn’t have enough wasta or social status to save them slipped out the back. Americans gathered around me and some of the other Embassy kids with our “you cannot arrest or detain this person” cards. At 11:15 we were told the party was back on! The music turned on for about 10 seconds before the ministry came in yelling, they weren’t finished with us yet! At 11:30 we knew it was hopeless. As soon as the drug call was made and the police arrived we were no longer legal. Because we weren’t legal the ministry took our papers, and because we had no papers the hotel wouldn’t back us up. Tamara was in tears as she and her mom tried to desperately contact the owner of the hotel, if he could have been bothered to show his support, we would have been fine. Sadly though, the manager of the hotel has been known to pull things like this on American proms. Dad came in and I said goodbye to my friends at 11:30. He wanted me out of there, and he wanted me out fast. About half the people had already trickled out, and the rest were calling taxis and trying to plan quick after prom parties.

Dad and I got stuck in an epic traffic jam right outside the hotel, when we finally neared the explanation dad had me cover up once more and he pulled out his embassy id for the roadblock. We were waved right through because we’re embassy, but there were several cars detained on the side of the road. I texted the guys and warned them of the roadblock, their response was that the police were searching everyone exiting the hotel for drugs or alcohol. Several people who were neither Western or Arab were detained due to their nationality. All of my friends made it out safely, they were just jostled around and a little frightened. As I texted people on my way home Louae apologized for the insane prom that hardly even had the chance to begin. I told him it was no worries, it takes a lot to top a prom at Windsor Palace or an elegant country mansion, but this one succeeded. To have my prom busted my cops and shut down by the Ministry of Interior tops absolutely everything!

Graduation Poem

Today unlatched are all your gates

Congratulations 2010 graduates

Now you’ll pursue all of your dreams

To shine like stars with brilliant beams

So soar up and above each and every cloud

With knowledge you’re making people proud

For once it’s you behind the wheel

Your new independence let no one steal

Don’t lose your integrity, don’t be shameless

But reach for the stars and you’ll be famous

Sure, pressure will come, but you won’t crack

Through trials you’ll stay, not up and pack

You’re supported by an incredible team

They’ll polish your dream and make it gleam

Your pillars of strength will always be there

They’ll give you wings and be your air

So pick a dream, choose a goal

And soon you’ll erect your own flagpole

You’ve so much potential, so much to give

So run, soar, love and live

I wrote this song for all my friends who are graduating, remember these words!

Camel, DJ, Caterer, Shisha, Beach House = Graduation Party Kuwaiti Style

Yesterday was the much anticipated Chevron Graduation Party. All the moms of graduation kids worked together to throw an amazing party at the President's house on the beach. Whenever we go to Chevron everyone pulls out their tank tops and shorts because it's the one place we can do and wear whatever we want. Julie and I drove to ASK where buses were waiting to take us down to the Chevron camp. Taylor and Sela Okamura were ever the gentlemen and ensured that all the American girls made it onto a separate bus than the Kuwaiti males. Soon everyone was aboard and we spent the hour drive talking and laughing and singing to a thousand different cell phone selections at once.

Upon debarking from the bus we were greeted with photographers and Ms Beeler with a camel! All of us took turns riding the crazy easily distracted camel along the beach. It was perfect! There was a dj, a schwarma man, caterers, and 15 dozen 2010 cupcakes! The food was fantastic, and the selection entirely overwhelming. And whose idea was it to leave buckets of ice around? Of course I put some down Ariel’s back while Jayle distracted her, I mean, what exactly was I supposed to do? I danced, and ate, arranged corsages and boutineers with Erika and Joha, sang and leapt around, snaped photos, rode a camel and eventually settled down with friends on the diwaniya couches overlooking the ocean. Shisa pipes were brought out and everyone smoked the pipes under the stars. The stars were so bright and beautiful and the evening entirely perfect. At that moment I realized how blessed I was to be with such amazing friends at a party on a beach in Kuwait. My life still surprises even me. The evening was so muggy and at times it was hard to breathe, but the night was so amazing and everyone's faces were beaming that no one appeared sweaty or gross.

We walked along the beach for a while, but soon had to run back to the DJ as our favorite songs began. The class of 2010 chose Waving Flag as their Senior Song, so everyone sang at the top of their voices and danced and went utterly crazy.

I could rant and rave forever about the lights, the food, the entertainment and the magic, but I think simply calling it the perfect party should suffice.

At midnight the spell was broken and most everyone boarded the buses back to the city. We cleaned up the party, and packaged leftover food for the moms to take to the guards. We set up camp downstairs and talked and giggled till around 3:00 am and woke up around 8. Far too little sleep!

I was greeted in the morning by the smells of breakfast and enjoyed the food Jayle’s dad made. Soon Ariel and Julie were gone and Jayle Bekah and I were left to enjoy the afternoon. Jayle drove over to the shop, we bought batteries and coke and soon met the boys by the pool. The afternoon was spent tanning and playing with Jonny’s little siblings in the pool. By 3:00 we were home eating leftovers and cleaning up for soap soccer!

Jonny, John, Bekah, Jayle and I took a car down into the city. Jonny played country music and I sat there just so happy to be alive. I was appreciative of my friends, my life, everything! Soap soccer was set up in an arena on the Gulf. It was another fantastic evening. Joha and I tumbled around trying to get each other wet, Taylor made the mistake of soaking me with the hose, and I just tackled him down. Everyone was sliding around going crazy! There were about 5 girls and 20 guys. Jayle Bekah and I were the most adventurous. We ventured into the boys game of tackle football. Everyone was against the person running towards the opposite end with the ball. Jayle Bekah and I tackled each other for a while, but soon the guys were tackling us too. Faisal slided across the field to try and make me slip, I just jumped over him, Taylor ran towards me and I tripped him, but Fareed, this HUGE guy came hurling towards me and I went down. I kinda lay there for a minute unable to move. I had to be carried off the field and though I was in pain I just sat there laughing it off. I refused to give up so joined back in the game with a slight limp. The rest of soap soccer was fun and crazy. A fantastic evening!

The most amazing part of the weekend? The fact that it happened. It was a weekend of utter perfection. Friends, parties, a camel, a dj, enjoying the beach, dancing under the stars, what more could a girl ever want or dream of cramming into one single weekend?